Safety lock apparatus for a basketball backstop



1970 E. A. SCHROEDER 3,522,944

. SAFETY LOCK APPARATUS FOR A BASKETBALL BACKSTOP Filed Jan. 5, 1968 sSheetsfSheet 1 INVENTOR I2 I EDWARD A. SCHROEDER 3 B 9461s, gaj fi wATTORNEYS Aug. 4, 1970' E. A. SCHROEDER SAFETY LOCK APPARATUS FOR ABASKETBALL BACKSTOP 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 5, 1968 FIG 2 INVENTOREDWARD A SCHROEDER BY 54 0 4 wi Me ATTORNEYS Aug. 4, 1970 E. A.SCHROEDER SAFETY LOCK APPARATUS FOR A BASKETBALL BACKSTOP 5 Sheets-Sheet5 Filvd Jan. 5, 1968 INVENTOR EDWARD A. SCHROEDER BY 4, @614, sww A wATTORNEYS 3,522,944 SAFETY LOCK APPARATUS FOR A BASKETBALL BACKSTOPEdward A. Schroeder, Wood Dale, Ill., assignor to Porter- LeavittCompany, Schiller Park, 111., a corporation of Delaware Filed Jan. 5,1968, Ser. No. 695,928 Int. Cl. A63b 63/04 US. Cl. 2731.5 6 ClaimsABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The safety lock apparatus includes a pivotalhook portion for underlying in a normally non-supporting relationship abacketball backstop frame that has been raised to a storage position bya winch. The hook portion will catch and support the backstop frame ifthe winch should fail. A solenoid connected to the hook portion and tothe winch moves the hook portion from its underlying position when thebackstop is about to be lowered.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a safety deviceand, more particularly, to a safety lock apparatus for use withbasketball backstops.

Generally, gymnasiums, field houses and the like, are used for a varietyof activities in addition to basketball games. Thus the basketballbackstops, which are supported by rafters or some other portion of theceiling structure, are provided with means enabling them to be movedfrom a playing position to a storage position when basketball is notbeing played. The backstops are generally carried by pivotally mountedframeworks swingable forwardly or rearwardly from playing position to agenerally horizontal storage position near the ceiling. It is also knownto use backstops wherein the framework moves vertically from its playingposition to a raised storage position.

Usually these backstop frames are raised and lowered by electricallyoperated winches. When stored, a backstop frame such as described, isheld only by a cable extending from the winch. If, for any reason, thecable or the winch should fail while the backstop is stored, the latterwould fall suddenly to its playing position. This sudden fall couldcause extensive damage to the backstop frame and the supportingstructure on the ceiling.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Briefly, the invention relates to a basketballbackstop safety apparatus including a support means and a backstop frameconnected to the support means for movement between playing and storagepositions. Drive means such as a winch is connected to the backstopframe and is operable to move the backstop frame "between the playingand storage positions. Safety lock means is connected to the supportmeans and includes a lock member movable between a locked positionunderlying the backstop frame when the backstop frame is in said storageposition to retain the frame in the storage position in the event offailure of the drive means and an unlocked position to permit movementof the backstop frame from the storage position to the playing position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1a is a side elevational viewshowing the arrangement of the safety lock, the winch and the backstopframe when the backstop is in its playing position in accordance withthe invention;

FIG. lb is a view similar to FIG. la showing the backframe locked in itsstorage position;

United States Patent FIG. 2 is a detailed perspective view of the safetylock in accordance with the invention;

FIGS. 3a, 3b and 3c are detailed side elevational views showing insequence the relationship of the backstop frame to the safety lockdevice as the backstop frame is raised to its storage position anddescends therefrom toward its playing position; and

FIG. 4 is a schematic representation of an electrical circuit foroperating the apparatus of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In FIGS. 1a: and 1b, a portion ofa field house or gymnasium ceiling 10 is shown. In a preferred form ofthe invention, backstop frame 12, including backboard 14 and basketballgoal 16, is supported from the ceiling 10 by pivots 18 so that it can bepivoted into a storage position as shown in FIG. lb. The safety lock 20is supported by the ceiling and is preferably positioned in spacedrelation to the pivots 18 so that it is in the path of a portion of thebackstop frame, such as the spreader pipe 22, when the frame moves toits storage position. When used with a vertically movable backstopframe, the safety lock must be able to engage a portion of the framewhen it is stored in its raised position.

The backstop frame is raised and lowered by cable or rope 24 which isreeled on winch 26. The winch is powered by electric motor 28. Winch 26and safety lock 20 are electrically interconnected for coordinatedmovement when the backstop frame is lowered in a manner fully disclosedhereinafter.

Referring to FIG. 2, the safety lock 20 includes a housing 30 which isconnected to the ceiling. 10* by support 32. Depending hook means 36 isconnected to the housing 30 by pivot 34.

The hook means 36 comprises a shank 38 whose upper portion is welded orotherwise alfixed to a sleeve 40 which in turn is mounted for rotationabout the pivot 34. The pivot 34 may include a fixed pin about which thesleeve 40 is rotatable. A flange 42 on angle member 43 is disposed intransverse relation to shank 38 intermediate the ends'thereof. Cam flat44, a flat elongated member disposed in fixed angular relation to shank38, has one end 46 welded to the lower end of shank 38 and has anintermediate portion welded to the free edge 48 of transverse flange 42whereby an upward force urges the cam flat 44 and the hook means 38counterclockwise about pivot 34. The end of cam fiat 44 extending beyondfree edge 48 is bent to an angle intermediate that of cam flat 44 andshank 38 to form catch 49. This arrangement of elements results in ahook defined by shank 3-8, flange 42 and catch 49 which hook functionsas a lock member as hereinafter described.

Solenoid 52 is operable to pivot hook 36 from a locked position shown inFIG. 3b to an unlocked position shown in FIG. 30. The solenoid 52includes an armature 54 axially movable in the solenoid coil andpivotally connected to link 56. Link 56 is connected to the upperportion of shank 38 by outwardly extending arm 58. The housing 30 isprovided with a stop 62 to limit clockwise movement of the hook means36.

A guide fiat 50, adapted to be cammed by the backstop frame, dependsfrom a sleeve 67 which is rotatable about a pivot 68 connected tohousing 30. The guide flat is adjacent to hook means 36. The upperportion 51 of guide flat 50 depends below the juncture of the flange 42and cam flat 44. The lower end of guide flat 50 is bent to form a camsurface 53 that slopes outwardly away from hook means 36.

Thus cam flat 44 and guide flat 50 define a converging passage 74 toenable them to be engaged by the spreader pipe 22 as the backstop frameis moved to its storage position. Upon such engagement, the spreaderpipe 22 urges hook 36 counterclockwise and guide flat 50 clockwise abouttheir respective pivots.

A normally Open switch 80, including operator 82, is mounted on housing30 adjacent the guide fiat 50 so that the clockwise movement of theguide flat causes operator 82 to close the switch. Switch 80 iselectrically connected to the solenoid 52 for operation thereof in amanner to be explained.

A normally closed switch 86 (FIG. 2) is connected to the underside ofthe housing .30 between the hook pivot 34 and guide flat pivot 68. Theoperator 90 for normally close switch 86 depends below the housing asillustrated in FIG. 3 to be engageable by the upwardly moving spreaderpipe 22. Switch 86 is electrically connected to motor 28 which drivesthe winch 26 in a manner which will be explained in detail.

Referring to FIG. 4 wherein a schematic diagram of the circuit for thesafety lock apparatus is illustrated, a power source 100 is connected bya wire 102 to a manually operable three-Way switch 104 operativelyconnected to the winch motor 28 for raising and lowering the backstopframe. Switch 104 includes an up pole 106, a down pole 108 and an off"position 110. The up pole 106 is connected by line 112 to normallyclosed switch 86. Line 114 connects the normally closed switch 86 to themotor 28 for winch 26.

The down pole 108 is connected by line 120 and line 122 to normally openswitch 80. Line 124 connects normally open switch 80 to the solenoid 52.Line 126 connects down pole 108 through line 120 to a downward rotarycounting limit switch 128 which is in turn connected by line 130- to themotor for winch 26. Ground wires 132, 134, and 136 connect the winchmotor and solenoid to the source 100.

The operation of the safety lock can best be described by reference toFIGS. 2, 3, and 4. In FIG. 2, the safety lock is shown fixed to aceiling in its normally closed or locked position. Normally closedswitch 86 (FIG. 2) is closed so that the circuit to the winch motor 28may be completed while the circuit to the solenoid 52 is open. Whenthree-way switch 104 is actuated to raise the backstop, a circuit iscompleted through up pole 106, line 112, normally closed switch 86 andline 114 to drive the winch motor 28. As the spreader pipe 22 on thebackstop 12 moves upwardly (FIG. 3a), it enters the converging passage74 defined by cam flat 44 and guide fiat 50. As it continues upward, itengages the cam fiat 44 urging the hook counterclockwise out of itspath. At the same time, the spreader pipe upon engagement with camsurface 53 urges guide flat 50 clockwise about its pivot. The clockwisemovement of the guide flat 50 causes operator 82 to close normally openswitch 80 enabling the circuit through the solenoid 52 to be completed.When the spreader pipe has moved past catch 49 on cam flat 44, hookmeans 36, under its own weight, returns to its normal position where itserves as a safety lock by underlying the spreader pipe 22 (FIG. 3b).

The winch 26 continues to raise the backstop until the spreader pipe 22contacts operator 90 for the normally closed switch 86 to open thecircuit to the winch motor 28. When the winch is shut off, the backstopframe and spreader pipe are disposed as shown in FIGS. 1b and 3b.

To lower the backstop from the storage position, switch 104 is moved toits down" position. This completes a circuit through pole 108, line 120,line 122 and normally open switch 80 (now closed) and line 124 to thesolenoid 2. The energization of the solenoid 52 causes the hook 36 topivot into position shown in FIG. 30, where it is displaced from underthe spreader pipe 22, thus releasing it for downward movement. Anothercircuit from pole 108 through line 120, line 126, downward rotarycounting limit switch 128 and line 130 actuates winch motor 28 to lowerthe backstop. As the backstop is lowered and the spreader pipe movesaway from operator 90, switch 86 returns to its normally closed posi- 4tion. As the downwardly moving spreader pipe disengages guide flat 50,it returns to its normal vertical position, thus causing operator 82 toopen switch 80. This deactivates the solenoid 52 and permits the hook 36to return to the position shown in FIG. 311 by its own weight. Thebackstop continues downward until it reaches the playing position (FIG.la) where the downward rotary counting limit switch 128 opens to breakthe circuit to the winch.

While the hook underlies the spreader pipe 22 in the safety lockedposition (FIG. 3b), if the winch or cable should fail, the fall of thebackstop would be checked by flange 42. Since it cannot slip off thehook, the backstop will be held in its storage position until the Winchor cable is repaired.

.If the circuit is energized to lower the backstop while the spreaderpipe is resting on the hook, the solenoid will not respond since theweight of the backstop will prevent the catch 49 from sliding past thespreader pipe. Because of this, there is no danger of inadvertentlyremoving the hook while it is supporting the backstop. In addition, awarning that the winch or cable has failed is given when the apparatusdoes not lower the backstop when the down circuit is energized.

While the safety lock apparatus of the above-disclosed invention hasbeen described with reference to a particular embodiment, it is to beunderstood that various modifications can be made without departing fromthe scope of the invention which is defined only by the appended claims.

What is claimed is: 1. A basketball backstop safety apparatus whichcomprises support means; a backstop frame connected to said supportmeans for movement between playing and storage positions;

drive means connected to said backstop frame and operable to move saidframe between said playing and storage position; and

safety lock means connected to said support means including a lockmember movable between a locked position and an unlocked position, saidlocked posi tion being in underlying and non-supporting relation to saidbackstop frame when said backstop frame is in said storage position tothereby retain said frame in said storage position in the event offailure of said drive means, said unlocked position being innon-underlying relation to said backstop frame to permit movement ofsaid backstop frame from said storage position to said playing position.

2. A safety apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said lock memberincludes hook means normally disposed in said locked position andpivotally movable to said unlocked position; and

said safety lock means includes:

power means connected to said hook means and operable to move said hookmeans to said unlocked position; and

control means interconnecting said drive means and said power means tocause said hook means to move to said unlocked position when said drivemeans is operated to lower said backstop.

3. A safety apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein said control meansincludes an electrical circuit for operating said power means;

said electrical circuit including normally open switch means mounted onsaid safety lock means in a position to be closed by said backstop framewhen said backstop frame is in said storage position.

4. A safety apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein said control meansis connected to said drive means so that energization of said drivemeans to move said backstop from said storage position to said playingposition completes said electrical circuit to move said hook means tosaid unlocked position.

5. A safety apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said lock memberincludes hook means having a shank pivotally connected to said housingand having first cam means supported by said shank; said cam means beingoperable when engaged by said backstop frame to urge said hook meansfrom said locked position to permit said backstop frame to move to saidstorage position; and

said safety lock means includes power means connected to said hook meansand operable when energized to move said hook means to said unlockedposition.

6. A safety apparatus as defined in claim 5 further comprising:

an electrical circuit for operating said power means, said circuitincluding normally open switch means;

a second cam means pivotally connected adjacent said first cam means andpositioned for engagement by said backstop frame as it moves toward saidstorage References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,919,494 7/1933 Albach2731.5 2,958,528 11/1960 Wikelund 2731.5

FOREIGN PATENTS 620,505 1961 Canada.

ANTON O. OECHSLE, Primary Examiner P. E. SHAPIRO, Assistant ExaminerUNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No.3,522,944 August 4, 1970 Edward A. Schroeder It is certified that errorappears in the above identified patent and that said Letters Patent arehereby corrected as shown below:

Column 3, line 12, "close" should read closed Column 6, line 1, before"mounted" insert position, said normally open switch means being Signedand sealed this 2nd day of March 1971.

(SEAL) Attest:

Edward M. Fletcher, Jr.

Commissioner of Patents Attesting Officer WILLIAM E. SCHUYLER, JR.

